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Me at 15
Myself/Family

I am Charles French. I am 17 years old and an orphan. Not much more to say about that I guess.

Education

My education started out rather limited because at the orphanage they only taught us the three Rs. I haven't stopped learning I spend a ton of time at the library just reading after work everyday. My favorite books are on the Rome, The Revolution, The War of 1812, and any thing I can find on the Indian Wars. Though I read some other stuff like math books and some stuff on engineering which will help at West Point a lot. Once there I can truly make myself something and not just another faceless worker in the mill.

Hopes and Dreams

Its my goal to pass the entrance exams for West Point. If I go to West Point the army will take care of me and I get away from the Irish in Boston because I will be going to the Plains. Not only that but after the military I can work as an engineer almost any where in the nation. And if that fails I can find work in Europe or the Spanish Countries they seem to be in contestant war. And maybe add some new states to our glorious Union that would get my name written in history.

Politics

I am a Know-Nothing because I think the Irish a or make me have to work for less then I deserve. Also they are going to bring the Pope and Jesuit to power because we all know those Catholics listen to them so closely and this immigration is easy to see as a non violent action to destroy another Protestant nation and bring the power of the Old World to bear on this New one. Not only that they have a total lack of morals and seem not to understand how to be clean decent people at all. This fills me with so much hatred at how drunk they are all the time I sometimes wonder how they even get the money to get food and more important to them alcohol. I cannot vote yet but when I can the Irish are going to be gone.(If I am still in Boston.)

Entertainment

One of my favorite things to do is to read. I also like to go to the dances held by the church. Which is a good way to meet people and more importantly women. This is of course on Sundays, long after church ends. My favorite book of all time is the Campaigns of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and a biography of Oliver Cromwell.

Religion

I am Methodist. That's who ran the orphanage I was raised in so yeah. Its a rather simple religion no harsh order of discipline like the Catholics. I hear they have to bow to the Pope and kiss his feet. Mine is religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Orphanage/Home

I still live here they said I cant leave till I am 18 or maybe get into one of the Academies. Because they are free and its a career. The orphanage is rather small and its crowded we have maybe 20 other kids in here from 3 to about 17. Most of the guys over 14 work at the local mills and docks near by. The beds are comfortable and the pastor and his wife are really nice and caring. Not to harsh nor to lenient plus they were are teachers and thanks to them I can read,write and arithmetic way more then they had to and help to keep are morals.
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Were I was raised

Jobs

Really I have two jobs on is I work at the factory near by its a textile factory. Which means it put outs cloth which is made in to close but I do not like working there as much they have started to cut wages because of the Irish. Who will work for beans they just have not respect. That is why I like to work at the docks the wages are higher because the own pays and so do some of the ship captains if you do a good fast job. The docks are hard because there is a lot more heavy lifting putting the cotton from the south on the barges is difficult. You wouldnt believe how much it weighs. The textile factory is easier but the works is rather dull you just need to pull the thread through and make sure the wheel keeps spinning. This one is also nosier because of the new steam engine used to spin the wheels. Though this makes it so we can work all year round big plus for me and the orphanage we are able to bring more home for the younger ones.